Elliott B. Strauss
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Elliott Bowman Strauss,
CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(March 15, 1903 – August 19, 2003) was a
rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
of the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
who served during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.


Early life

Strauss was the son of Admiral Joseph Strauss (1861–1948) and Mary Sweitzer Strauss (1870–1958), and the grandson of Brigadier General Nelson Bowman Sweitzer, the brother of Brigadier General Jacob Bowman Sweitzer (1821–1888). He was born in
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, and attended
The Hotchkiss School The Hotchkiss School is a coeducational preparatory school in Lakeville, Connecticut, United States. Hotchkiss is a member of the Eight Schools Association and Ten Schools Admissions Organization. It is also a former member of the G30 Schools gr ...
in
Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
. Strauss entered the
United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
in June 1919, and graduated in June 1923 with the rank of ensign.


Career

Most of Strauss' service until the mid-1930s was at sea. However, November 1935 to September 1937, he served as Assistant Naval attaché at the
American Embassy in London The Embassy of the United States of America in London is the diplomatic mission of the United States in the United Kingdom. It is located in Nine Elms and is the largest American embassy in Western Europe and the focal point for events relating ...
. While there he was a Delegate to the Third Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics in
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
, in 1936, and on May 12, 1937, was awarded the Coronation Medal at the coronation of King George VI of the United Kingdom. From October 1939 to December 1940, Strauss commanded the destroyer . He then served as navigator of the light cruiser , taking part in the
occupation of Iceland The Allied occupation of Iceland during World War II began with a British invasion intent on occupying and denying Iceland to Germany. The military operation, codenamed Operation Fork, was conducted by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. In tim ...
in July 1941. Strauss returned to London in December 1941 to serve on the staff of Admiral
Lord Louis Mountbatten Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979) was a British naval officer, colonial administrator and close relative of the British royal family. Mountbatten, who was of Germa ...
, the Chief of
Combined Operations In current military use, combined operations are operations conducted by forces of two or more allied nations acting together for the accomplishment of a common strategy, a strategic and operational and sometimes tactical cooperation. Interactio ...
where he participated in the planning of the
Dieppe Raid Operation Jubilee or the Dieppe Raid (19 August 1942) was an Allied amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in northern France, during the Second World War. Over 6,050 infantry, predominantly Canadian, supported by a regiment o ...
in August 1942. On May 1, 1943, he was promoted to the rank of
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
and served until August 1944 on the staff of Admiral Sir
Bertram Ramsay Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay, KCB, KBE, MVO (20 January 1883 – 2 January 1945) was a Royal Navy officer. He commanded the destroyer during the First World War. In the Second World War, he was responsible for the Dunkirk evacuation in ...
, the Allied Naval Commander in Chief, working on the planning for the
Invasion of Normandy Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) with the Norm ...
, on June 6, 1944. In October 1944, Strauss took command of the attack transport . In January 1945 he was assigned to the Pacific Fleet and voyaged to
Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomon Islands by area, and the seco ...
, Manus and Bougainville carrying men and supplies. On April 1, 1945, he took part in the landings on
Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...
. Strauss returned to the United States in August 1945 to serve in the office of the
Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the professional head of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy. In a separate capacity as a memb ...
in Washington D.C. From November 1946 to December 1947, Strauss commanded the light cruiser , before returning to England to spend most of 1948 as a student at the Imperial Defence College in London. Strauss later commanded Destroyer Flotilla Six. In March 1952 he became Head of the Long Range Plans Branch in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Strauss retired on July 1, 1953, and was advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral.


Later career

After retiring from the Navy, Admiral Strauss served in foreign assistance and security assignments in the
Agency for International Development The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 bil ...
and Foreign Service Corps for another eight years, including duty in
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
,
Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...
and the
Malagasy Republic The Malagasy Republic ( mg, Repoblika Malagasy, french: République malgache) was a state situated in Southeast Africa. It was established in 1958 as an autonomous republic within the newly created French Community, became fully independent in ...
. From August 1956 until March 1957, he was a director of the school of engineering at
Bucknell University Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, it now consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering. ...
. He was also a writer and speaker on economic development. Strauss was a longtime director of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF), serving for a time as its chairman. The NHF was founded in 1926 to address a concern for the preservation of naval history and traditions. At the time of his death, he was chairman emeritus of the board of directors. In 1979, Strauss was part of the U.S. Delegation representing the
Carter Carter(s), or Carter's, Tha Carter, or The Carter(s), may refer to: Geography United States * Carter, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Carter, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Carter, Montana, a census-designated place * Carter, ...
Administration at the funeral of Lord Mountbatten, led by
W. Averell Harriman William Averell Harriman (November 15, 1891July 26, 1986), better known as Averell Harriman, was an American Democratic politician, businessman, and diplomat. The son of railroad baron E. H. Harriman, he served as Secretary of Commerce un ...
and including
Pamela Harriman Pamela Beryl Harriman (''née'' Digby; 20 March 1920 – 5 February 1997), also known as Pamela Churchill Harriman, was an English-born American political activist for the Democratic Party, diplomat, and socialite. She married three times, ...
, Claiborne Pell, Adm.
Thomas B. Hayward Admiral Thomas Bibb Hayward (May 3, 1924 – March 3, 2022) was Chief of Naval Operations for the United States Navy from July 1, 1978, until June 30, 1982, after which he retired from military service. Naval career Shortly after the commenceme ...
, George S. Vest, Dr. Cortes F. Enloe, Eugene Haytow, Dr. Rajenda Prasad,
James Roosevelt James Roosevelt II (December 23, 1907 – August 13, 1991) was an American businessman, Marine, activist, and Democratic Party politician. The eldest son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt, he served as an official Secret ...
, Gen.
Albert Coady Wedemeyer General (United States), General Albert Coady Wedemeyer (July 9, 1896 – December 17, 1989) was a United States Army commander who served in South-East Asian Theater of World War II, Asia during World War II from October 1943 to the end of the wa ...
, and Wynelle Watson White.


Personal life

On March 3, 1928, he was married to heiress Lydia Anne Archbold Saunderson (1907–1988), daughter of
Anne Mills Archbold Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...
(1873–1968) and the granddaughter of
John D. Archbold John Dustin Archbold (July 26, 1848 – December 6, 1916) was an American businessman and one of the United States' earliest oil refiners. His small oil company was bought out by John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. Archbold rose rapidly ...
. Her father, Armar Dayrolles Saunderson (1872–1952), was divorced from her mother after he attempted to force her to remain in his native Ireland. Before their divorce, they had three children: * Elliott MacGregor Strauss (1928–2008) * Armar Archbold Strauss (1931–2012), who married Umeko Hyoto of Japan. * Lydia Saunderson Strauss, who married Olivier Guy Delaunay, son of Guy Delaunay of Paris, in 1958. After their divorce, Lydia remarried to Robert Whittier Foote. He was married secondly, in 1951, to Beatrice Drayton Phillips (1914–2003), a daughter of former US Ambassador to Belgium,
William Phillips William Phillips may refer to: Entertainment * William Phillips (editor) (1907–2002), American editor and co-founder of ''Partisan Review'' * William T. Phillips (1863–1937), American author * William Phillips (director), Canadian film-maker ...
, and Caroline Astor Drayton. Together, they were the parents of: * Christopher J. Strauss He was a member of the Pilgrims of the United States, the Chevy Chase Club, Army and Navy Club of Washington, DC, the New York Yacht Club, and the
Buck's Club Buck's Club is a gentlemen's club in London, located at 18 Clifford Street, established in June 1919. P. G. Wodehouse mentions it in some stories and modelled his Drones Club mostly after Buck's. It is probably best known for the Buck's Fiz ...
and International Sportman's Club, of London. Strauss died in Washington, D.C. at the age of 100. He is buried in
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
.Burial Detail: Strauss, Elliott B
– ANC Explorer


Honors

Strauss was awarded the
Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...
with
Combat "V" Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
, the citation reading: : "For meritorious achievement as the United States Naval Representative on the Staff of the Chief of Combined Operations in the Dieppe Raid, and while serving on the Staff of the Allied Naval Commander in Chief during the Invasion of Normandy. Embarked as an observer in a British destroyer which rendered close fire support during the Allied raid on Dieppe on August 19, 1942, Captain (then Commander) Strauss obtained information of great value to the United States and Great Britain in the planning and execution of subsequent operations. Ordered to the Normandy beaches on D-Day+2, he applied his comprehensive knowledge of the build-up procedure in solving far shore shipping problems which threatened to delay the operations. Serving with distinction, skill and courage despite enemy air and ground attack throughout these missions to halt German aggression, Captain Strauss upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." Rear Admiral Strauss was awarded the
American Defense Service Medal The American Defense Service Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces, established by , by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on June 28, 1941. The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had served ...
, the
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal The European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those m ...
, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the
Navy Occupation Service Medal The Navy Occupation Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy which was "Awarded to commemorate the services of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel in the occupation of certain territories of the enemies of the U.S. durin ...
Europe Clasp, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was made an honorary
Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
and has the
Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...
of France, with palm. In 2002, Senator
John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two terms ...
made a statement on the Floor of the
U.S. Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...
celebrating Strauss' life and his 99th birthday.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strauss, Elliott B 1903 births 2003 deaths Hotchkiss School alumni United States Navy admirals Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France) American men centenarians Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies Military personnel from Washington, D.C. United States Navy personnel of World War II